Jayjay's Pov:
The party was still going strong in the living room—I could hear Felix and Ci-N arguing over a karaoke song, their voices competing with the heavy bass of the music. It was loud, chaotic, and exactly what Section E was known for. But I needed a moment to breathe. The air in the house felt thick, so I slipped into the kitchen to grab a glass of water.
I wasn't alone. Ate Ion was there, leaning against the counter. She was staring at an old photo of our family on the fridge, her expression soft and distant.
"They've grown up so much," she whispered. She didn't even turn around, but she knew it was me. "Especially Angelo. He used to never smile in photos."
"He still doesn't," I joked, stepping up beside her and feeling the hum of the refrigerator. "Unless you're around, apparently. You're the only one who can make the Lion of Section E act like a human."
She laughed, a soft, melodic sound that seemed to cut through the noise. "Jayjay, thank you for looking after him. He told me how much you mean to him. He's lucky to have a sister who keeps him grounded."
"He's my brother," I said simply, taking a sip of the cold water. "But Ate... I have to ask. Keifer. Did he really cry in London? Like, actually sob? Or were you just trying to make me feel better?"
Ion turned to me, her expression turning a bit more serious, her eyes searching mine. "Jay, he really did. It wasn't just a few tears. He was a mess. Do you remember that one phone call? The one where you told him that if he didn't come back early, he shouldn't bother coming back at all? You told him it would be too late—that Section E's problems would be settled without him, and that you might even give up on the feelings you had for him."
My heart dropped. I felt a sudden pang of guilt in my chest. I remembered saying those words out of anger and loneliness, but I didn't realize how much they had actually hurt him.
"He was terrified, Jay," Ion continued softly. "He was so scared that by the time he finished his business in London, he'd have no home to come back to—and no Jayjay waiting for him. That's why he fought so hard to get back here."
I stood there in silence, the guilt washing over me like a cold wave. I thought I was the only one hurting, but Keifer was carrying the weight of my ultimatum thousands of miles away. Suddenly, a tear fell from my one eye. I discreetly wiped it.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the doorway. Keifer was standing there, arms crossed, looking incredibly grumpy. His ears were a bright, tell-tale pink.
"Are you two gossiping about me?" he demanded, though his voice lacked any real bite.
"Maybe," Ion teased, walking past him and patting his cheek. "Your wife-to-be might cry, Keifer. Go to her and comfort her, or I'm telling Angelo that she is crying."
"Did you make her cry?" Keifer asked, his eyes narrowing as he watched Ion leave.
Ion didn't say anything; she just gave a knowing smirk and walked back to the party. Keifer stepped into the kitchen and pulled me into a corner, away from the prying eyes of the living room.
"Don't believe everything she says. She likes to exaggerate things just to get a reaction," he muttered, refusing to look me in the eye.
"So you didn't cry?" I asked, looking up at him. My voice was a little softer, a little more vulnerable.
"I had a cold," he muttered, staring at a spot on the wall behind me.
"A cold that only happened on your birthday? Right after I told you I might give up on you?"
He sighed, finally leaning to the wall where I was leaning. He looked exhausted but relieved. "I just... I didn't want to lose you, Jay. I would die if you weren't in my life. That's all."
I hit his arm and said while wiping my tears, "Don't you ever say those words again! I will kill you!"
"Okay, I won't. Now stop crying," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper as he pulled me into a tight hug.
After a while, I let go, but the tears were still flowing like a river. He reached out, his thumb gently wiping my cheek. "Jay, what happened? Why are you still crying?"
"When you were there... why didn't you tell me that you were suffering too?"
"Jay, that's the past. We are in the present, and in the present, we both are together. Now stop crying."
I managed to stop crying, and then he held my hand. We both walked out of the kitchen. Ohh, Yuri and that red-haired girl are also here. Omg, what's her name? Why didn't she tell me? Let's just call her Saki. Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm so genius.
But then, my heart nearly stopped. I saw it. My bag. It was sitting right there on the sofa, wedged perfectly in the middle of where Keifer and Kuya Angelo had been sitting.
Oh no. Oh no, no, no. I hope they didn't see it. What should I do? Ahhhhhh, this is so frustrating! Should I tell Ate Ion? What will she do? What if she tells Kuya?
"Jay, we need to talk," Kuya said, his deep voice snapping me out of my panicked thoughts. I swallowed hard because what if he had already seen it?
"Ok, Kuya, I'm coming," I said, my voice barely a squeak. While following him, I noticed that Keifer was also following me, his protective instincts on high alert.
"Only Jay. Keifer, you go back," Kuya said to him, not even turning around.
"But why?" he argued, his voice rising in frustration.
"Keifer, please... we will be back soon," I said to him, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze. First, he sulked and pouted like a toddler, but he finally gave in and went back.
"Come on, let's go," Kuya said. I nodded, and we went upstairs into a quiet room.
I sat on the edge of the bed, clutching my hands together so he wouldn't see them shaking. My bag was still downstairs, but the secret inside it felt like it was screaming from across the house.
"Jay, why didn't you tell me about this hit list?" Kuya Angelo asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"Kuya... I was afraid that you might do something to Yuri," I said, my eyes fixed on the floor.
"You want to save that guy from me? The guy who wants to kill Keifer?" Angelo stood up, his massive frame casting a shadow over me. "Thank God that this picture of Keifer fell from your bag. Alvin told me about all of this. You told Alvin and Cindy about this, but not me."
"I didn't tell them!" I protested, looking up briefly.
"Then how do they know about this?"
"I found this and I asked Ma'am Cindy what was written on it... so that's how they found out about this whole thing. And besides them, Aries knows this too."
"Aries too?" He asked, and I nodded.
"Did Keifer know about this?" I shook my head in response, my throat too tight to speak.
He sighed and said, "Jay, you need to tell this to Keifer or he might get in danger. Do you know after he getting the inheritance his life is in danger so much?" His words made me freeze. It wasn't a game anymore. The tears started again, and I began sobbing.
"Don't worry, I'll figure something out. Don't cry," he said, finally softening as he pulled me into a hug.
"Jay," a voice said from the door. It was Keifer.
"Keifer..." was the only word I could manage.
"Jay. Why didn't you tell me about this?" he asked, holding the picture of himself that had slipped from the table where Kuya must have left it I think so.
"Keifer, we will talk about this later. Take Jayjay out of here and tell Yuri to come up right now," Kuya said firmly.
What will Kuya say to Yuri? Why was he sending me away? My mind was spinning with fear.
"Jay, come. Let's go," Keifer said, standing beside me and holding my hand. I nodded and we both went down. While we were on the stairs, Keifer leaned in. "Jay, there is no need to worry. I'll be all right."
"But Keifer..." I didn't get the chance to finish because he cut me off.
"No 'but.' If you want, I'll do double security on my house and whenever I go out, okay?" I nodded, and we went downstairs. Keifer spotted Yuri and told him to go up. Yuri didn't want to go, but he had to.
As we walked back to our seats, I noticed Saki was giving me looks that meant she was angry at me.
"What's your name? You didn't tell me."
"It's Saki," she snapped, her voice like a whip.
Hoy! I was right! Or is she reading my mind? Whatever. I held Keifer's arm tightly and we both went back to our seats.
Angelo's Pov:
What the hell was on that Hanamichi's head? Do they really think they can harm Keifer?
No. Not at all. After all those years, I can finally see the hope of living in Jayjay's eyes because of Keifer. I've seen her in the dark for too long. I won't let that hope end.
"Yes, Boss. You called me," Yuri said while coming in.
Once I was sure no one else was there, I slapped him. He was in shock and confused too.
"Why did you hit me?" he asked, clutching his red cheek.
"What will you do about this?" I said while holding the pic that Keifer handed me before going.
"I can explain," he said, his voice dropping an octave.
"Then fucking explain!" I shouted, my rage finally boiling over.
"I have no intentions of killing Keifer, and I can't even do that," Yuri said, meeting my gaze. "I know that we are rivals, but still, he is my best friend. I can't do that."
"Then what will you do?"
"I don't know. I'm just postponing this because I don't know what to do. They are saying if I killed Keifer, I will get my place in the clan and Hahoya, but I can't kill my best friend for my position in the clan."
"Ok. But don't tell anyone what we talked about, and I'll think what we have to do about this," I said, making him leave. He nodded and left.
What should we do now? I can't bear to see Jayjay hurt again.
Jayjay's Pov:
It's been 30 minutes. Yuri isn't back yet. What if Kuya had did something to him?
My questions ended when Yuri finally came down. His cheek was bright red as Kuya slapped.
"What happened up there?" I asked as he walked by.
"Nothing important," he said while smiling. Then he went to his girlfriend.
My gaze shifted to Keifer, who was smiling now seeing Ci-N, Felix, and Calix doing a worm dance. Now I couldn't hold back my laughter and I started laughing like an idiot.
"Thank God you laughed," Keifer whispered in my ear. "I have an announcement for the boys. I'm going to tell them so you come with me, let's tell them together," he said while pulling me.
We both got in the center of the living room and Keifer shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Section E! We have an announcement!"
"Why only Section E? Aren't we your friends too, Keifer?" Percy said, stealing the attention of everyone. Keifer chose to ignore him completely. I could see Percy's irritation on his face.
"In the summer vacation, we will go to the island again!" Keifer announced.
The room erupted. All the ulupongs started cheering.
"Why just Section E?" Ella asked and Keifer also ignored her.
What is this King planning to do?
"Not only Section E. Aries and Ella, Percy and Honey, Rakki, Mica, Saki and Freya are also going," I said, making them all look at us.
"If you had not said it, then it would be fine because I was going to take Freya anyway," Edrix said, making me look at him.
"And I would take Rakki," Ci-N added too.
"And I would take Honey," Percy said. How can he back off?
"And I would obviously take Mica," Calix chimed in. Obviously, how would he live without Mica?
"And I would take Saki," Ohh, the new lover Yuri said also.
"Well, if that's the case, then okay. That message was just for Ella and Aries, Ate Ion and Kuya Angelo," I said.
"No thanks Jay, me and Ion are going somewhere else in the vacation," Kuya said while adjusting him in the sofa where Ate Ion was sitting.
No matter what, he just wants to sit with Ate. So clingy, just like Keifer.
After the party, we all went to our separate destinations. I was originally going to ride with Aries, but Keifer insisted on taking me to a restaurant first. Honestly, how could I say no when it's about food?
The ride was silent, so I chose to catch some sleep. I woke up when I realized that someone was beside my door, leaning over me to unbuckle my seatbelt.
In a total reflex, I was going to slap them, but I stopped when I saw it was Keifer. He unbuckled the belt and stayed standing in the doorway—but why? Why couldn't he let me come out?
"Keifer, get aside. I wanna get out," I said, full in irritation.
"Nope," he said while smirking.
What's on his mind?
"Why? What is your problem?" "First, say the magic word." I knew exactly what his magic word was, but for the sake of the food, I gave in.
"Hubby, please," I said.
"Well, I was just looking for a 'please,' but that's even better," he teased, finally stepping back. "Now come on, let's eat." He held my hand to help me down. It was his Jeep and I'm a bit short-heighted, so he had to help, of course. We went into the hotel restaurant and Keifer asked for a table for two. He went to the reception to order and then brought the tray back to the table himself.
I could see everyone watching us. Some girls were giggling and giving me thumbs-up, and of course, some of the guys nearby looked irritated. I ordered a burger, a large pizza with extra cheese, and a large glass of juice. Meanwhile, he just ordered wine and a hamburger.
He tried to feed me, but I only ate from him three times before I started dodging his hand. After eating, we sat there because there was a large screen playing a movie. Keifer kept ordering more and more drinks.
I know he can handle a lot without getting drunk, but it was still wrong for his health. I finally made him stop after his third bottle.
After stopping him, I went to the restroom. But when I came back, the scene had changed completely. It wasn't the movie that caught my eye—it was Keifer.
A girl was sitting right beside him, and he was sleeping. Is she taking advantage of the situation? Who is this bitchy witch?
I walked as fast as I could and sat next to Keifer then suddenly that girl spoke.
"Umm excuse me, this is mine and my boyfriend's table so what are you doing here?" "Your boyfriend?" I asked in a mocking tone. Only me and that girl were talking and this king is sleeping.
"Yeah duh."
"So what's his name?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Because you are not his girlfriend. I. Am."
"No you're not!"
"Oh really? Then just let's wake him up."
"No he is tired, don't you dare wake him up!"
"Don't tell me what to do, he is my boyfriend," and I started pushing Keifer.
"Keifer wake up, KEIFER!" I yelled and he woke up.
"Yes wifey," he said.
"See, you mother-fing bitch,"* I said to that girl.
"Babe, see, this girl is cursing me," she said to Keifer.
BABE? My foot!
"Who the hell are you and why are you calling me babe? I'm not your babe," he said to that bitch. "Jayjay, who is this creep?" he asked me.
"I don't know! When I came back from the restroom she was sitting with you and saying that you are her BOYFRIEND!" I said in full anger.
"I swear Jay, I don't know this! I just closed my eyes and somehow slept. I swear on Keigan's head, I don't know this creep," he said. I noticed the girl was trying to run but I grabbed her from her hair and slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground.
"DON'T YOU EVER DARE TO COME NEAR MY HUSBAND!" I yelled at her and then she ran.
Huh, did she think she could take advantage of sleeping Keifer? No, not while I'm alive.
"You," I turned to Keifer. "We need to talk," I said, grabbed my bag and went out where the car was. After a while he came out while carrying my stuff which I left inside.
"Jay I swear I don't know her! I swear on Keigan's head and I have complained to the restaurant too about what happened and they are saying that she is banned now from there. Jay, it's not my fault!" he explained.
"Get in the car. I want to go home," I said. He unlocked the car and I got in. I didn't wait for him to buckle my seatbelt, instead I buckled it on my own. After a while he got in the car and started driving.
Thank god he was not drunk or we might have to call someone to pick us up. He tried talking to me but I chose to stay quiet. And now I was getting annoyed because he kept telling me that it wasn't his fault, so I starting finding my phone in my bag then I saw a lollipop, an idea popped to keep him quiet
"Jayjay, please listen, it wasn't my—" he was cut off in mid sentence bcz I stuffed lollipop in his mouth.
"Please keifer, be QUIET for a bit" I said a little rude, then I turn to him to take a glance, and his eyes were looking hurt, like u hurted him and I was feeling guilty, but why I was feeling guilty? Why wouldn't I? I treated him so badly now all day he was taking care of me and now when it wasn't even his fault I treated him this bad, then I saw that the lollipop was now in his hand not in mouth then he took a tissue, put lollipop in tissue and then stuffed lollipop in his pocket, after that incident the drive was silent.
When we reached my house, I got in and didn't thank him or say goodbye. Instead, I directly went in the house and closed the door shut. I went up to my room, took a bath and went to sleep.
The End